C.-5

1917. NEW ZEALAND.

THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1908 (REPORTS ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance with Section 86 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1908.

The Land Purchase Inspector and Chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners to the Minister of Lands. Sir,— Wellington, 23rd August, 1917. I have the honour to submit the report of the Department for the year ending the 31st March, 1917. Ijand for Settlements. The number of properties considered during the year was 795, with an area of 984,788 acres. This is a very large increase over former years. Many of the areas, however, were small, while a large number were quite unsuitable for our purposes; besides, the prices asked were in many instances quite exorbitant. During the year 50,140 acres were purchased and offered for selection at a cost of £595,419. A further area of 22,862 acres has been secured, and is being prepared for settlement. The operations of the Department have been entirely confined to the purchase of lands for discharged soldiers, and the supply is now well ahead of the demand. In some districts very few applications are being received. With the present extreme prices ruling for all produce there is little prospect of values for land receding, therefore some simpler but still effective method may be necessary to enable the Department to provide land for soldiers at a rental they can reasonably be expected to pay. The total area purchased up to the 31st March, 1917, is 1,606,158 acres, at a cost of £7,989,220. Land Settlement Finance Act. No associations have been formed during the year, and until a more workable Act is provided it is doubtful if much will bo done. Appended will be found the usual tables. John D. Ritchie, Chairman,

I—C. 5.